Renown Films

[Brief Encounter]

Odd that. But here it is:

Lazybones (1935)

Welcome to Renown Pictures

[Steve Crook]

name='Brief Encounter']Odd that. But here it is:

Lazybones (1935)

Welcome to Renown Pictures

Thanks for that. I see that they've used my plot summary from the IMDb



It's a fun film and it's good to hear that they're working on releasing it on DVD. I wonder if they're planning on releasing any other of Powell's early films? A lot of them are well worth watching. They stand up very well to the other British films that were being made at the time. They're far from being masterpieces but they are all competently made and you can often see him trying out ideas that were then used later (done better) in the masterpieces that he made with Pressburger.



So Mr 'renownpictures', what about it?

A set including Lazybones, His Lordship, Something Always Happens, The Love Test and maybe a few more of his surviving early films would be most welcome.



Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

The website is very confusing though - there's no indication that most of the films listed are likely to be released on dvd or indeed why they're listed in the first place (Lazybones and the other b/w b-movies shown on BBC4 a couple of years back are all listed which seems an interesting coincidence).

[Brief Encounter]

Surely it's because they're all in the catalogue owned by Renown? Steve, they'd have to licence any of the other titles you suggest. I'm sure someone could do it, mind you! If you want that one released, you ought to email them.



I noticed the comment on many early Powell films on IMDB: "This film is lost - please check your attic"!

[Steve Crook]

name='Brief Encounter']Surely it's because they're all in the catalogue owned by Renown? Steve, they'd have to licence any of the other titles you suggest. I'm sure someone could do it, mind you! If you want that one released, you ought to email them.

Yes, it sounds like it's another case where the distribution rights to different films have been packaged up with other unrelated films and then sold and then those packages have been repackaged and sold on again, and again. Until you get to the point where none of the films in any of the packages they buy bear any relation to each other and nobody wanting to screen or release a film has any idea who has the rights to it, and often the companies aren't sure what they have the rights to

I noticed the comment on many early Powell films on IMDB: "This film is lost - please check your attic"!

Yes, of the 27 films he directed (credited) in the 1930s, 10 of them are still on the missing list. Some have only been found in limited or cut versions.



But we still have hopes and hope that they will be screened or released on DVD



3 of them were recently released on DVD in France. They have the original British soundtrack so are (mainly) in English. A couple of them are available on a British DVD from MPI. Various others are hawked around on DVD-Rs made from earlier video releases or bootleg copies.



And there might be some interesting news in this area coming soon. But I'm under embargo until it's all confirmed



Steve

[charliekane]

name='Steve Crook']And there might be some interesting news in this area coming soon. But I'm under embargo until it's all confirmed



Steve

oh, do tell...........................

[Steve Crook]

name='charliekane']oh, do tell...........................

I will, when I'm allowed to

I should know one way or the other fairly soon



Steve

[Bernardo]

Renown Film Productions are appearing on Film 24 and Movies for Men Two, yesterday there was Operation Pacific that is Renown I think.

[Brief Encounter]

I live in hope that Powell's 'Some Day' turns up, starring, of course, Margaret Lockwood...

[Steve Crook]

name='Brief Encounter']I live in hope that Powell's 'Some Day' turns up, starring, of course, Margaret Lockwood...

And the young Esmond Knight as a romantic lead

Like many of the early missing films, it looks to have been a good story and would probably have been made competently even if those films were made quickly and cheaply.



Steve

[Ray]

name='Steve Crook']And the young Esmond Knight as a romantic lead

Like many of the early missing films, it looks to have been a good story and would probably have been made competently even if those films were made quickly and cheaply.



Steve

I watched Esmond Knight only last week on Film24, he got top billing in a quaint little 60 minute film called Girdle of Gold (1952).

[Steve Crook]

name='Ray']I watched Esmond Knight only last week on Film24, he got top billing in a quaint little 60 minute film called Girdle of Gold (1952).

Not one I know, but with Esmond doing a Welsh accent it sounds interesting



Steve

[Ray]

name='Steve Crook']Not one I know, but with Esmond doing a Welsh accent it sounds interesting



Steve

I am sure that it will be repeated, most films on that channel usually are.



I guess you looked it up on Imdb to see that he played, "Evans the Milk".

[Steve Crook]

name='Ray']I am sure that it will be repeated, most films on that channel usually are.



I guess you looked it up on Imdb to see that he played, "Evans the Milk".

Yes, I was most surprised - "Indeed to goodness"

But he did also play Fluellen, the closest Shakespeare could get to Llewellyn, in Olivier's Henry V



Steve

[phil]

Smokescreen/The Hi-Jackers and SOS Pacific are apparently avalable from the Renown Website but I have seen no info on their release anywhere else. Anybody know anything?

[julian_craster]

[SEXTON BLAKE]

Had an email from Sarah at Renown, there has been a slight delay in the duplication process, this title will be available in another 7 days.

[film1967]

I've got to get this one!

[JohnB_Toronto]

name='julian_craster']

... Getting somewhat off topic I suppose but I must say that's a very nice scan - none of the usual reflections on either side of the spine that you'd normally get with a reflective flatbed scanner. The whole thing has a very smooth, flat appearance. Can I ask what brand of scanner you used for this?

[Wee Sonny MacGregor]

name='Steve Crook']Not one I know, but with Esmond doing a Welsh accent it sounds interesting



Steve

It's worth seeing just for the Home Counties "doubling" for South Wales.